Acclaimed 1990s Children’s Series to Get Reboot on Netflix

A children's television series that received accolades during its original run in the 1990s and continues to air worldwide in reruns will get a reboot from Netflix.

Writing in The New York Times, Elizabeth Jensen reports that the streaming service ordered a new version of the science-based animated series “The Magic School Bus.”

Netflix is buying 26 half-hour episodes of a new program from Scholastic Media called “The Magic School Bus 360°,” which will rely on computer-generated animation. The show will start airing in 2016.

Jensen writes: “The companies declined to discuss terms of the deal, which follows Netflix’s acquisition in the last year of rights to a number of Scholastic series, including the original ‘Magic School Bus,’ ‘Clifford the Big Red Dog’ and ‘Goosebumps.’”

Ted Sarandos, chief content officer for Netflix, said the old version of the animated show is “remarkably popular” on the streaming service. “It teaches science in a way that transcends generations,” he said.

The original program first aired from 1994-1997 on PBS Kids, earning a number of Daytime Emmy Award nominations, including three consecutive nods for outstanding children's animated program, from 1996-98. Lily Tomlin won a Daytime Emmy in 1995 for playing Ms. Frizzle on the show.